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Definitions to following terms: Conversion, Migration, etc

10/1/2008 12:33:35 PM

244191

1 posts

Definitions to following terms: Conversion, Migration, etc

Hi, I'm looking for generally accepted definitions for the following terms:

Migration, conversion, implementation, integration and installation. I'm starting a practice for merger and acquisition integration as well as internal platform consolidation. It seems that many people use these terms somewhat interchangeably - I'm trying to provide discrete defintitions of each.

For example: Migration - generally involves moving to a more current version of the legacy platform and processes.

Conversion - specifically refers to the movement of data from one db to another, and any ETL involved.

Implementation - refers primarily to bringing in new business on existing platforms and systems

Integration - broadly refers to all aspects of incorporating one entity with another, including all business functions, systems and platforms

Thanks!

12/19/2008 5:04:16 PM

378137

12 posts

Re: Definitions to following terms: Conversion, Migration, etc

Hi,
Seems to me that you're confronted with terms that have different meaning for business and for IT/IS.

My own understanding is:

Migration:   changing for a given set of processes (or process steps) from one supporting system to a diffrent one. The migration may be between an old or a new release,or between completely different applications. Especially if you're moving from heterogeneous systems to integrated ERP.
In my understanding, the migration does not include the design of the target system.
But it includes decision about which data to convert and the measures to take so to be able to run smoothly the process in the target system. It would also include data cleansing activity in the legacy system prior to the conversion.

Conversion: moving data from one system to another. The conversion might be a simple technical step (if you change release), or a complex enrichment and transformation process.

In my experience (SAP projects) people always use conversion and migration interchangeably...

Implementation: For IS and ERP, design and realisation/change of a target system in order to be able to run a business process that it didn't run before. The implementation is only about being able to execute a process from begin to end in the new system. The migration is focused on making it possible to execute the processes in the new system, even if they have been started in the old one.   For M&A, implementing means applying the business decisions of the merger, which would be translated into impelemntation + migration at IS level.

Integration: for M&A, it is mainly implement and migrate processes of the aquired entity in the system of the aquiring entity.   For IS and ERP integration is mainly the part of the implementation process, that brings together different subsystems.

Could you share your own terminological synthesis with us ?

Kind regards

Christophe

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